MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill has blasted out a warning to big-spending Barclaycard Premiership rivals Chelsea - 'You can't buy fans and you won't get our manager either'.

MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill has blasted out a warning to big-spending Barclaycard Premiership rivals Chelsea - 'You can't buy fans and you won't get our manager either'.

Chelsea's failure to land Sven-Goran Eriksson as a summer replacement for Claudio Ranieri has re-opened speculation about who will fill the impending Stamford Bridge vacancy.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already been sounded out about the job once earlier this season and there has been talk the Scot could be tempted to end his managerial career in London despite only recently signing a rolling extension to his current contract which expires next summer.

However, the mere suggestion that Ferguson might quit brought a hearty chuckle from Gill, who said the most successful manager Britain has ever produced was going nowhere.

Amazed

"I don't think that would happen," he said. "I would be absolutely amazed if he ever entertained that idea.

"He is very fit, motivated and committed and we are talking about the future. As long as the team are still performing long may that continue."

Gill was talking on the back of a 32% rise in half-year pre-tax profits to £26.8million today, confirming their status as the richest sporting organisation in the world.

Unfortunately for the Old Trafford outfit, the off-field performance has not been replicated on the pitch the season with early elimination from the Champions League and an almost certain surrender of their Barclaycard Premiership title to Arsenal.

In addition, they are also lagging behind in the transfer stages as Roman Abramovic-funded Chelsea splash the cash in a bid for instant success.

But while Chelsea's new money and Arsenal's impending move to a 60,000-capacity new home at Ashburton Grove appear to represent a twin threat to United's decade of domestic dominance, Gill is bullish about the Red Devils' future and confident the club's success is built on foundations that will stand the test of time.

"You can't just buy fans," he said.

"If you take a step back, you would see Manchester United's appeal has been built over 50 years.

"It started with the Munich Air Disaster, went through the glory years of Best, Law and Charlton and gone on to the present day.

"During that time we have attracted fans from all around the world. Those supporters stick with you through thick and thin.

"Nike recognised that when they signed a deal to sponsor us for 13 years. They appreciate we will not win the Premier League or the Champions League every season during that time but they recognise what a strong following the club has."